REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION 63 



Zacharewicz, E.5 concluded that nitrate of soda associated with sulphate 

 of potash and superphosphate of lime increased yields, hastened maturity and 

 raised the sugar content of the fruit. 



HollodayG observed that the only fertilizer that showed on the growth 

 of the vines in a marked degree the first season was dried blood. This was 

 evidenced also in a brighter, fresher green of the foliage. Potash showed 

 little if any effect. 



Fertilizer Formulae. 



Most fertilizer formulae for grapes have been suggested from time to 

 time by chemists. Van Slyke^ recommends liberal applications of a fertilizer 

 carrying 2 per cent nitrogen, 8 per cent phosphoric acid, and 11 per cent of 

 potash. Nearly all formulae seem to be based on the amounts of the princi- 

 pal elements removed in an average crop of fruit and wood. Manufacturers 

 and distributors of fertilizers furnish in their advertising, formulae, taken 

 from experiments carried on under their direction with grape-growers who 

 are not in many cases competent to do careful work. 



The Experimental Vineyard. 



In the spring of 1909 this Station leased the 30-acre farm of H. B. Benja- 

 min, Fredonia, New York. The soil is of three types on the Benjamin farm. 

 Dunkirk gravelly loam, Dunkirk silt loam and Dunkirk clay loam. The 

 fertilizer experiment was located on the gravelly loam as follows: 



The Dunkirk gravelly loam is a deep open soil quite inclined to leaching. 

 It is formed of alternating layers of varying degrees of fineness. In the 

 Benjamin vineyard it extends to a depth of approximately 20 feet. It should 

 be said that this type of soil is generally preferred by vineyardists in the 

 Chautauqua Belt, not by reason of superiority in its plant food content, nor 

 because grapes are better grown on it, but rather because it is naturally well 

 drained and more easily worked. It consequently commands a higher price 

 per acre. In 1909 about one-third of the entire acreage of the Chautauqua 

 District was located on Dunkirk gravelly loam. Since then, however, the 

 plantings have been largely on other soil types by reason of the fact that 

 practically all land of this character had been planted to grapes or other 

 fruits. 



The Fertilizer Section. 



A section of approximately three acres was selected for the tests of 

 commercial fertilizers. This area is very uniform and with a gentle slope to 

 the south. A slight depression extends across the entire section from east to 

 west. The plats extend at right angles to this depression, so that as far as 

 topography is concerned, they are very uniform. The soil on the north side 

 is possibly a little lighter than elsewhere in the section, but the same extent 

 of each plat overruns this variation. The rows, 46 in number, run north and 

 south and contain 37 vines per row. A few scattering vines have died and 

 not all are yet replaced. The age of the vines in this section is not known 

 but they were approximately 18 years old at the time this experiment was 

 begun in 1909. At this time it was a representative vineyard for this type 



5 Zacharewicz, E. Prog. Agr. & Vit. (Ed. 1'Est. 1906.) 



6 Holloday, A. L. Virg. Sta. Bull. No. 35. 



7 Van Slyke, L. L. New York Agricultural Exp. Station Bull. No. 94. 



